Parrish's absence felt in locker room
By Dennis Georgatos
Mercury News
When the 49ers came to work Wednesday, someone was missing. Someone they had spent nearly five years working alongside. Someone named Tony Parrish.
``He's a guy we all got close to and spent a lot of years playing with,'' linebacker Jeff Ulbrich said. ``He was a guy that was a class act, who always treated everybody with a ton of respect. He was a friend, and it's just tough not seeing him around here.''
Parrish, 31, who started 62 games at safety for the 49ers, was released Tuesday. The team needed roster space for linebacker Jay Foreman, who will help ease the absence of injured Derek Smith (hamstring) on Sunday against Green Bay.
``Tony has been a consummate pro,'' Coach Mike Nolan said Wednesday. ``He's been great in the community, been great in every respect. But there comes a time and this, unfortunately, was the time.''
The players understood that. They understand the business. But that didn't make it any easier.
When defensive back Mike Adams heard the news Tuesday, he phoned Parrish immediately.
``He helped me out a lot and I wanted to thank him for everything he had done for me, for showing me the ropes,'' Adams said.
``He was saying when he was in Chicago, someone took him under their wing and showed him how to do things, and he felt he should do the same for others.''
Even after losing his starting job to Mark Roman in mid-October, Parrish frequently hosted the 49ers secondary's weekly film study sessions at his home.
There was no pouting or public complaint over being deactivated the past three weeks -- a first in his nine-year career. Parrish continued to practice as hard as he ever did, even though almost all of his repetitions over the past month were as part of the scout team.
``When you define a leader, he had all those qualities,'' safety Keith Lewis said. ``That's what shocked me the most, because he has been a leader, even though he hasn't been on the field. Obviously, the coach had his own agenda and Tony wasn't part of the plan. But Tony respected that. He went out there every day and just did his job.''
Parrish returned from a broken leg that sidelined him for the final seven games of 2005, ending his consecutive-game streak at 121, but he never fully regained his position. The starter on opening day, his job was always in jeopardy.
And then Tuesday it was gone.
Defensive coordinator Billy Davis said Parrish's release reflected the harsh nature of the NFL and young players especially should pay heed to its lessons.
``I don't think a lot of them understand the business side of this yet,'' Davis said. ``They've still got the college mode going where everybody is on scholarship and stays for four years. No one is guaranteed a place in the NFL -- no coach, no player, nobody.''
Parrish expressed disappointment over his release Tuesday but said it doesn't signal the end of his career.
Davis agreed with him on that score.
``I know he's going to land with another team,'' Davis said. ``He'll probably be playing in another week or two. It was a hard decision, but one that was made for the team.''
Mercury News
When the 49ers came to work Wednesday, someone was missing. Someone they had spent nearly five years working alongside. Someone named Tony Parrish.
``He's a guy we all got close to and spent a lot of years playing with,'' linebacker Jeff Ulbrich said. ``He was a guy that was a class act, who always treated everybody with a ton of respect. He was a friend, and it's just tough not seeing him around here.''
Parrish, 31, who started 62 games at safety for the 49ers, was released Tuesday. The team needed roster space for linebacker Jay Foreman, who will help ease the absence of injured Derek Smith (hamstring) on Sunday against Green Bay.
``Tony has been a consummate pro,'' Coach Mike Nolan said Wednesday. ``He's been great in the community, been great in every respect. But there comes a time and this, unfortunately, was the time.''
The players understood that. They understand the business. But that didn't make it any easier.
When defensive back Mike Adams heard the news Tuesday, he phoned Parrish immediately.
``He helped me out a lot and I wanted to thank him for everything he had done for me, for showing me the ropes,'' Adams said.
``He was saying when he was in Chicago, someone took him under their wing and showed him how to do things, and he felt he should do the same for others.''
Even after losing his starting job to Mark Roman in mid-October, Parrish frequently hosted the 49ers secondary's weekly film study sessions at his home.
There was no pouting or public complaint over being deactivated the past three weeks -- a first in his nine-year career. Parrish continued to practice as hard as he ever did, even though almost all of his repetitions over the past month were as part of the scout team.
``When you define a leader, he had all those qualities,'' safety Keith Lewis said. ``That's what shocked me the most, because he has been a leader, even though he hasn't been on the field. Obviously, the coach had his own agenda and Tony wasn't part of the plan. But Tony respected that. He went out there every day and just did his job.''
Parrish returned from a broken leg that sidelined him for the final seven games of 2005, ending his consecutive-game streak at 121, but he never fully regained his position. The starter on opening day, his job was always in jeopardy.
And then Tuesday it was gone.
Defensive coordinator Billy Davis said Parrish's release reflected the harsh nature of the NFL and young players especially should pay heed to its lessons.
``I don't think a lot of them understand the business side of this yet,'' Davis said. ``They've still got the college mode going where everybody is on scholarship and stays for four years. No one is guaranteed a place in the NFL -- no coach, no player, nobody.''
Parrish expressed disappointment over his release Tuesday but said it doesn't signal the end of his career.
Davis agreed with him on that score.
``I know he's going to land with another team,'' Davis said. ``He'll probably be playing in another week or two. It was a hard decision, but one that was made for the team.''
posted by The Gryphon at 7:08 PM
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